Routledge China's Influence on Non-Trade Concerns in International Economic Law (Global Law and Sustainable Development)

This volume examines the range of Non-Trade Concerns (NTCs) that may conflict with international economic rules and proposes ways to protect them within international law and international economic law. Globalization without local concerns can endanger relevant issues such as good governance, human rights, right to water, right to food, social, economic, cultural and environmental rights, labor rights, access to knowledge, public health, social welfare, consumer interests and animal welfare, climate change, energy, environmental protection and sustainable development, product safety, food safety and security. Focusing on China, the book shows the current trends of Chinese law and policy towards international standards. The authors argue that China can play a leading role in this context: not only has China adopted several reforms and new regulations to address NTCs; but it has started to play a very relevant role in international negotiations on NTCs such as climate change, energy, and culture, among others. While China is still considered a developing country, in particular from the NTCs’ point of view, it promises to be a key actor in international law in general and, more specifically, in international economic law in this respect. This volume assesses, taking into consideration its special context, China’s behavior internally and externally to understand its role and influence in shaping NTCs in the context of international economic law. Review ‘A timely, innovative and insightful book that addresses a wide range of vitally important contemporary concerns of global reach ranging from climate change to food security to China’s role in Africa through the lens of non-trade issues. The editors and contributors are to be congratulated for cutting edge scholarship with real world significance.’ Randy Peerenboom, La Trobe University Melbourne, Australia ‘China’s growing role in the WTO, both because of its involvement in numerous disputes and as a full participant to its overall activities, and China’s active engagement in multilateral and regional law making concerning environmental, social and economic matters generally makes this volume quite timely. The contributors cover a wide spectrum of issues making this publication an indispensable tool for all those concerned in current problems of the global economy.’ Giorgio Sacerdoti, Bocconi University, Italy, and former Chairman of the WTO Appellate Body ‘China’s Influence on Non-Trade Concerns in International Economic Law, edited by Paolo Davide Farah and Elena Cima, is a most timely book on an important issue. This book is impressive both because of the breadth and depth of the topics addressed. For anyone interested in the future of the multilateral trading system, this book will be a very interesting and at times provocative read.’ Peter Van den Bossche, World Trade Institute (WTI), Switzerland and Member, Appellate Body, World Trade Organization ‘This is really a "masterwork" which has appeared at the "right time" on the "right topic". The book assesses China’s development on non-trade concerns within the context of the WTO by use of global justice and sustainable development principles. It is a great collection which critically examines China from multiple perspectives.’ Minyou Yu, Wuhan University, China About the Author Paolo Davide Farah teaches climate change, trade, energy, and environmental law and policy at West Virginia University, USA. He has variously taught classes on public international law, international economic law and WTO law, European law, Comparative law, and Chinese law in Italy, United Kingdom, USA, China, and other countries. He was a Visiting Scholar for the academic year 2011–2012 at Harvard Law School, East Asian Legal Studies Program and a Senior Fellow at the Institute of International Economic Law (IIEL), Georgetown University Law Center, Washington DC, USA. He is Director of Research of gL